Safety device for automatic poultry feeders



Feb. 12, 1963 R. 0. JORDAN SAFETY navxcs FOR uwommc POULTRY FEEDERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 22, 1961 INVENTOR 2 E Jo'ez /v ATTORNEYS Feb. 12, 1963 R. D. JORDAN 3,077,182

SAFETY DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC POULTRY FEEDERS Filed May 22, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 P "if, F7 Z /7 53 WI /7 I! z/ j j /j f J J of w a}? M7 5 i8 /g 26 a7 INVENTOR 72 m Z Jolezw v ATTORNEY5 3,977,182 SAFETY DEVICE FOR AUTUMATIC EQULTRY FEEDERS Roy D. Jordan, Rte. 4, Culhnan, 'Aia. Filed May 22, 1961. Ser. No. 111,6?1

6 Claims. (Cl. 119-52) This invention relates to a safety device for automatic poultry feeders, and more particularly to a device which will prevent small chicks from entering or being caught in feeder corners and feed hopper chain entrances in automatic feeders of the endless chain type.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of an improved device adapted to be positioned in the path of travel of the chain adjacent the corner or feed hopper chain entrance into a gear box or power unit or the like, which will positively preclude the passage of a baby chick into engagement with the gears or other machinery, and consequently prevent injury or death of a chick.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which may be readily associated with any existing automatic chain type poultry feeder, and which may be manufactured and assembled with a minimum of difliculty and expense.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of this invention, it may here be pointed out that automatic poultry feeders of the chain type are frequently constructed with corners, which corners require gear boxes or the like. Additionally, such chains on the return fiight enter a power unit, or similar driving mechanism. Frequently, small chicks or baby chicks being too small to stand at the side of the trough and feed in the manner of the larger chickens, enters the trough, and ride unconsciously on the chain, consuming feed during the passage. Under such circumstances, the baby chicks are frequently carried into the gear box unknowingly.

An important object of this invention is, therefore, the provision of a device which is adapted to be positioned adjacent a corner or a feed hopper chain entrance which will automatically lift the body of the chick out of the trough, and which will provide a perch which the chick may engage with its feet, and consequently prevent its being carried into the dangerous territory in proximity to the gearing or drive mechanism.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efficient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble, and install.

Still other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawing wherein there are illustrated preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an automatic poultry feeder showing a corner thereof, and one form of device constructed in accordance with the instant invention positioned therein.

FIGURE 2 isan enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of a slightly modified form of construction.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the construction of FIG. 3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, partially broken away, disclosing a modified form of end construction of the device of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view partially broken away showing in plan a modified form of end construc tion of the device as shown in FIG. 1.

iifiillgz Patented Feb. 12, 1963 FIGURE 7 discioses a modified form of mounting the device in association with the trough support; and

FIGURE 8 discloses a modified form or construction or" the device of FIG. 7.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail and more particularly to FIG. 1, it is generally indicated at In an automatic feeder, which comprises a trough 11 which is provided interiorly with a movable chain 12 which carries feed 13 in a direction toward the corner gear box 14, which bends on the chain at a right angle, or other desired augie. After leaving the gear box 14 which is mounted on a corner post 15, the chain extends into an additional trough 16, and thence endlessly back to a drive unit (not shown). The gear box is is provided with a cover 17, which is secured in place in any desired manner as by a wing nut 18.

A skirt or flange I9 is usually provided at the entrance to the gear box for the purpose of keeping small chicks from being carried therein. However, this is frequently inetfective since the chain may become entangled with the feed of the chicks and the chicks carried into the gears and killed.

The device of the instant invention comprises in the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. '1 three parallel rods, 2%, 21, and 22, the outermost rods 20 and 21 having projecting fingers which are outwardly flared as at 23 and 2 respectively, the outwardly flared ringers extending upwardly above the level of the chain from elbows which are indicated at 25, 2d and 27, the arrangement being such that the projecting upwardly extending tips never contact or engage in the links of the traveling chain 12.

The opposite ends of the members 20, 21, and 22. are secured, in this modification, to a transversely extending bar 30, which is mounted between the legs 31 of a U- shaped bracket 32; which is suitably secured as by a nut and bolt 33 to skirt 19. The level of the cross bar 36 is substantially level with the top of the opening into the gear box 1d, and the arrangement is such that any baby chicks which are traveling on the chain 12 are carried on the top turface of the grain 13 as they approach the entrance of the gear box 14*, are raised up wardly by the fingers of the several rods 2%, 21, and 22. A cross bar 35 is provided intermediate the link of the rods 29, 21, and 222 and affords a perch, which the chicks may grasp with their feet, and thence fly out of the trough to a safe position. The spacing of the bars is such that the body of a chick cannot pass therebetween, and the projecting ends 25 and 24 extend to the sides of the trough 11 so that the bodies of the chicks cannot pass on either side thereof. While the chickens feet and legs may still ride on the chain or the grain for a certain distance, due to the upward inclination of the rods, the bodies of the chicks will ultimately be raised out of contact with the chain and forward motion toward the gear box will be stopped.

A modified form of construction is shown in FIG. 3 which is adapted to be used in exactly the same way, and comprises only a pair of rods 4t) and 41, which have outwardly flared extremities 42 and 43 which extend upwardly from elbows 44 and 45 similar to the elbows 25, 26, and 27 previously described.

In this modification of the device which is particularly adapted for narrow troughs, a cross bar or perch 46 is provided similar in purpose to the bar 35 and an end bar 47 is mounted between the legs 4-8 of a U-shaped mounting bracket 49 which is secured to the skirt adjacent the gear box or feed hopper chain entrance by bolts St} in a manner similar to that of the previously described modification.

' FIGURE discloses a further modification wherein rods 5%, 51 and 52 are provided in parallel relation similar to that of the previously described modification of FIG. 1, and provided with a perch or cross piece 53. In this modification, however, the end member 36 is omitted and the ends of the outermost rods 59 and 52 are outwardly turned as indicated at 54 and 55, respectively, engaging the legs 56 of the U-shaped mounting bracket 57 which is similarly mounted. The central leg 51 is free at its upper end but is rigidly secured to the cross piece 53 as indicated at 58 to hold it in assembled relation.

FIGURE 6 discloses a further modification wherein parallel rod members 69', 61, and 62 are upwardly bent at elbows 63, 64, and 65, but wherein the ends 66, 67, and 68 extend straight rather than being flared outwardly as are the ends 42 and 43 and Z3 and 24- of the previous modifications.

In certain instances, the entrance to the gear box or the like may be entirely open and not provided with a skirt.

Under these conditions a mounting plate 79 is drilled as at 71 to provide bolt openings for the securement of the same to the top edge of the cover of the gear box, and, in the case of troughs having a V-shaped bottom, as indicated at 72, a V-shaped rod or Wire 73 is extended upwardly through the end hole 71, and secured in position as by means of nut 74. A U-shaped bracket 75 having upright 76 is then secured to the top of the plate 70, and a transverse rod 30 serves as a mounting for the elongated rods 40 and 41 or, alternatively, 20, 21, and 22.

A further modified form of mounting is disclosed in FIG. 8 wherein a bar 80' is provided with a U-shaped wire member 81, which is adapted to encircle a U-shaped trough 82, nuts 83 being provided for holding the ends in position. In this case a bracket 84 is bolted as by means of a bolt extended through an opening 85 to the top of the plate 80, and the rod 30, or alternatively i7, is secured in suitable openings in the ends thereof.

It is to be noted that in all modifications of this device the rods or fingers are pivoted adjacent the top of the chain entrance to permit the fingers to swing to an out-ofthe-way position when desired, as indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 2.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved safety device for automatic poultry feeder corners and/ or feed hopper chain entrances which accomplishes all of the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A safety device for an automatic poultry feeder having open topped feed troughs, an endless chain for moving feed through the troughs, and gear boxes, each having an entrance and a removable cover between, sections of feed troughs which bend the endless chain at a desired angle, said safety device comprising a bracket secured to the poultry feeder, a bar rotatably mounted in said bracket, a plurality of parallel rods each fixed at one end to said bar and extending angularly across the entrance to the gear box downwardly into the feed trough to lift chicks standing on the chain therefrom, and means fixed to said elongated rods intermediate the ends thereof to provide a perch for the chicks.

2. A safety device as defined in claim 1 wherein first and second of said parallel rods extending into the feed troughs are disposed adjacent opposite sides thereof, the free ends of said first and second rods being flared outwardly and upwardly, a third one of said parallel rods disposed between said first and second rods, the free end of said third rod being upwardly flared, the upwardly flared ends of said first, second, and third rods terminating above the links of the endless chain in the feed troughs.

3. A safety device for an automatic poultry feeder having open topped feed troughs, an endless chain for moving feed through the troughs, and covered gear boxes, each having an entrance through which the chain passes to be bent at a desired angle, said safety device comprising a bracket secured to the cover of each of the gear boxes adjacent the entrance thereto, a bar pivotally mounted in each of said brackets, first, second, and third parallel rods each secured at one end to said bar and extending angularly across the entrance to the gear box downwardly into a feed trough, the free ends of said first and second rods Ibeing flared outwardly and upwardly, the free end of the said third rod being upwardly flared, the upwardly flared free ends of said first, second, and third rods terminating above the links of the endless chain in the free troughs.

4. A safety device for an automatic poultry feeder having open topped feed troughs, an endless chain for moving feed through the troughs, and covered gear boxes, each having an entrance, between sections of feed trough through which the endless chain passes to be bent at a desired angle, said safety device comprising shaped wire members adapted to partially encircle a portion of the feed troughs adjacent the entrance to each of the gear boxes and having parallel, aligned free end portions, a bar positioned transversely of the feed trough and having portions adjacent each end thereof defining openings through which the free ends of said wire members extend, means to secure said wire members and said bars in clamping engagement with the troughs, a bracket secured to each of said bars, a rod rotatably mounted in each of said brackets, a plurality of parallel elongated rods each fixed at one end to each of said rotatable rods and extending angularly across the entrance to each of the gear boxes downwardly into the feed troughs, each of said elongated rods having upwardly flared freeend portions terminating above the links of the endless chain in the feed troughs, said elongated rods adapted to engage and lift a chick from the chain before the same passes into a gear box.

5. A safety device for automatic poultry feeders as defined in claim 4 wherein certain of said elongated rods are disposed adjacent opposite sides of the feed troughs into which they extend, and the free ends of said certain elongated rods being outwardly flared to center the device in the troughs.

6. A safety device for automatic poultry feeders as defined in claim 4 which further includes a cross bar fixed to the elongated parallel rods secured to each of said rotatable rods, said cross bar positioned intermediate the ends of said elongated rods to provide a perch for chicks lifted from the endless chain.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,591,609 Roberts et al. Apr. 1, 1951 2,683,439 Markey July 13, 1954 2,782,761 Martin et al Feb. 21, 1957 *1 -1 wins... 

1. A SAFETY DEVICE FOR AN AUTOMATIC POULTRY FEEDER HAVING OPEN TOPPED FEED TROUGHS, AN ENDLESS CHAIN FOR MOVING FEED THROUGH THE TROUGHS, AND GEAR BOXES, EACH HAVING AN ENTRANCE AND A REMOVABLE COVER BETWEEN, SECTIONS OF FEED TROUGHS WHICH BEND THE ENDLESS CHAIN AT A DESIRED ANGLE, SAID SAFETY DEVICE COMPRISING A BRACKET SECURED TO THE POULTRY FEEDER, A BAR ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN SAID BRACKET, A PLURALITY OF PARALLEL RODS EACH FIXED AT ONE END TO SAID BAR AND EXTENDING ANGULARLY ACROSS THE ENTRANCE TO THE GEAR BOX DOWNWARDLY INTO THE FEED TROUGH TO LIFT CHICKS STANDING ON THE CHAIN THEREFROM, AND MEANS FIXED TO SAID ELONGATED RODS INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF TO PROVIDE A PERCH FOR THE CHICKS. 